Metahealth Privacy Policy
Effective Date: August 14, 2025
At Metahealth, we are dedicated to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our clients in North Carolina seeking mental health services, personal/home care, and substance abuse counseling. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information in compliance with applicable laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and North Carolina state regulations. By using our website or services, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
1. Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of information:
- Personal Information: Name, contact details (e.g., phone number, email, address), date of birth, and other identifiers provided when scheduling consultations, registering for services, or contacting us.
- Health Information: Medical history, mental health diagnoses, treatment plans, substance abuse recovery details, and other protected health information (PHI) shared during counseling or care services.
- Payment Information: Billing details, insurance information, or payment method data for services rendered.
- Website Usage Data: Non-personal information such as IP addresses, browser type, and site navigation patterns collected through cookies or analytics tools to improve our website experience.
2. How We Use Your Information
Metahealth uses your information to:
- Provide and manage mental health therapy, personal/home care, and substance abuse counseling services.
- Facilitate appointment scheduling, treatment planning, and communication with our licensed professionals.
- Process payments and insurance claims.
- Comply with legal and regulatory requirements, including HIPAA standards for protecting PHI.
- Enhance our website functionality and user experience through aggregated, anonymized data.
- Respond to inquiries or provide support via email, phone, or other communication channels.
3. How We Share Your Information
We prioritize your confidentiality and only share your information as follows:
- With Your Consent: We may share your information with third parties (e.g., family members or other providers) if you provide explicit permission.
- For Treatment, Payment, or Operations: We may share PHI with healthcare providers, insurers, or billing services as necessary for your care, payment processing, or internal operations, in compliance with HIPAA.
- Legal Obligations: We may disclose information to comply with court orders, subpoenas, or other legal requirements, or to protect the safety of clients or others.
- De-Identified Data: Aggregated, anonymized data may be used for research or to improve our services without identifying individuals.
We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information for marketing purposes.
4. Your Rights
Under HIPAA and North Carolina law, you have the right to:
- Access and obtain a copy of your PHI, subject to certain limitations.
- Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information in your records.
- Request restrictions on how we use or share your PHI, though we may not always be able to comply.
- Obtain an accounting of disclosures of your PHI.
- Request confidential communications (e.g., receiving information at a specific address or phone number).
To exercise these rights, contact our Privacy Officer at (910) 668-1725 or contactus@metahealthone.org.
5. Data Security
We implement physical, technical, and administrative safeguards to protect your information, including encryption, secure servers, and restricted access to PHI. However, no online system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute protection against unauthorized access.
6. Website Cookies and Analytics
Our website uses cookies to enhance functionality and analyze usage trends. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. We use tools like Google Analytics to collect anonymized data, which helps us improve our website but does not identify individual users.
7. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party sites. Metahealth is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.
8. Children’s Privacy
Our services are not intended for individuals under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without parental consent, in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Updates will be posted on our website with the revised effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact:
Metahealth Privacy Officer
Address: 113 West 3rd Street, Pembroke, NC 28372
Phone: (910) 668-1725
Email: contactus@metahealthone.org
For more information about our mental health, personal/home care, and substance abuse counseling services, visit www.metahealthone.com. Your trust is our priority, and we are committed to safeguarding your privacy as you pursue wellness.